Pirate Galaxy » l advantage.The team has a clear advantage in pre

ESTERO, Fla. -- Deron Powers drove from the backcourt to the hoop and scored with a half-second remaining to give Hofstra a 92-90 victory over Bradley at the Gulf Coast Showcase on Monday.Darrell Brown had tied the game at 90-all for Bradley on a deep 3-pointer with six seconds left with Powers then following with his winning layup.Bradleys Donte Thomas caught the ensuing long inbounds pass and got a shot off from the top of the circle that hit the front of the rim.Browns straightaway, step-back 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining had brought the Braves (2-2) within a point, 88-87, of Hofstra (2-2), which had led since the 2:11 mark. Powers then extended the Prides lead to three with two free throws with 23 seconds remaining.Powers led six Hofstra players in double figures with 19 points. Rokas Gustys had 12 rebounds and 11 points.Brown, a freshman, finished with 34 points.Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Football Jerseys Outlet . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate.In the middle of the summer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, I swung by the No. 48 transporter to check in with my close friend Scott Maxim, engine specialist for Hendrick Motorsports, around the same time practice was ending.Suddenly crew chief Chad Knaus whistled in followed by a few crew members, driver Jimmie Johnson trailing the group. They huddled at the front of their transporter. The atmosphere was tense and edgy, evident through the body language of the teams leader, Knaus.A few months later I made the same visit. It was Dover, Chase race No. 3, and this time the mood was relaxed, composed. While urgency was still present, there was no sense of panic in the camp.The contrast between the two Fridays was extreme, and it left an impression on me, enough that I mentioned to Knaus how impressive it was that he had kept this group from tearing itself apart in the midst of his and Johnsons longest winless streak together.Its obvious now that the six-time champs had rediscovered their magic, but I can honestly say, it wasnt obvious to me then.Ive always been quick to Identify Jimmie Johnson as the key to the No. 48 teams success. That comes from a basis of studying, evaluating and understanding drivers and their responsibilities. Its who I am. Its what Ive spent the majority of my life doing.Less obvious to me is the impact crew chiefs have, and thats not because I didnt experience their value as much, but rather I may not have appreciated it as much as I should have early in my career.That comes from having built, and maintained, my own race cars early in my career. It was an asset early because it put me ahead of my competitors, but became a liability late because I became less willing to experiment.The same effects may have hindered two of the best I ever competed against, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Wallace was more talented than the one title he has; he was worthy of three in my mind. And Martin was every bit his equal, but ended his career with none.These two drivers understood race cars as well as any in NASCAR ... at least for a while.But as the sport evolves, becomes more technical, drivers with deep race car knowledge become less open-minded than those who simply want to drive.Its why Jimmie Johnson is so unique, so disciplined. Johnson -- perhaps more than any driver I know -- understands his role, is consumed by it, and doesnt allow any outside noise to interfere with his responsibilities.A common practice for struggling drivers, particularly late in their career, is to reinvent themselves through a crew chief swap.dddddddddddd The hope is that a new leader fosters new ideas, recreates an energy that had disappeared -- a spark if you will. Johnson and Knaus have resisted that practice, and I admire the hell out of what they have done because of their loyalty to one another.Chad brings the best out of Jimmie, he holds the passwords to the 48 teams files, and more than ever before, I believe Chad Knaus has demonstrated his value to the Hendrick organization.Ive observed and pondered the 48 team all year. Ive witnessed tension strong enough to cause an implosion. But it doesnt happen with this group. Its bond appears impenetrable.The Bottom LineJimmie Johnsons win last week is a game-changer for most Chase brackets. Few had the 48 in their Miami final four; it just didnt seem logical in early September.Johnson, as we sit today, is the only driver not having to worry about the consequences of playing Russian roulette next Sunday in Talladega. Thats an enormous mental advantage.The team has a clear advantage in prepping three cars for three races in the third round that represent Jimmie Johnsons second-, third- and fourth-best averages of all NASCAR tracks, and if thats not enough to convince you team 48 is destined for Homestead, this should be:No driver is immune from waning confidence; it causes an athlete to try harder, perhaps too hard, at the wrong time. Its effects lead to mistakes (like speeding on pit road on the final stop of the day) when you may have had the car to beat.Even with his confidence diminished some, Johnson is more dangerous than most. With his confidence peaking, the 48 teams only kryptonite comes in the form of mechanical issues.Johnson more than likely wins one of the three races in the third round, which positions him for that coveted seventh Sprint Cup title.I reached out to congratulate Johnson following his win, and in his response was something I found very profound.Keep in mind, I consider Johnson among the most humble human beings on the planet. He is proof you can be confident, be great, but not need to remind anyone of it.So I found it compelling at the end of our exchange when he declared this: More to come!Dare any of us doubt him? ' ' '